<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Re: TIME FOR REVOLUTION? WILL THE PLAY GO ON?</TITLE>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=studi-o@shaw.ca href="mailto:studi-o@shaw.ca">RodO</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=dkeith@silk.net
href="mailto:dkeith@silk.net">dkeith</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 05, 2002 7:24 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: TIME FOR REVOLUTION? WILL THE PLAY GO ON?</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><BR>Hi Don,<BR>It sounds like you've been having the same
nightmares that I've been experiencing. <BR>The extra-curricular question has
been divisive, and it hopefully has sent a message; that's why, I think it
has been put back into the hands of individual teachers to choose whether the
show goes on or not. The only risk to doing an extracurricular show that I
can see right now would be that it could be impacted by a walk out of some kind.
Plus there are your own feelings regarding sending the message to the
government. I've chosen to write letters and make phone calls to our MLA at this
point.<BR><BR>You have way, way, more experience, (twice) than me, and I think
your instincts are probably better than mine. We (ABCDE) hope to draft a
document with the music, dance and art folks that more clearly defines the role
of extra/co curriculars in our areas. Any input that you may have would be
appreciated. We're also going to tackle this topic at our exec. meeting on Sat.
<BR><BR>Odd, I just gave a speech at the school board meeting this evening
about how youth sometimes feels powerless in a world that seems out of control
to them. Ridding us of cynicism requires us to give real projects to students
(and for ourselves) that empowers them to take some control. Your words hit
home.<BR><BR>Me, I've chosen Village of Idiots by John Lazarus. Not terribly
cutting, but to the point. <BR><BR>rodO<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE><BR><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>I am a high school drama teacher
with 31 years of experience. I need your help and
support.<BR></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>I have never
cancelled a show, and I have worked under many political dicatorships , yet
this year because of the recent events in B.C. Politics I am facing the
withdrawal of all my voluntary extra-curricular work, aka directing a play.
<BR></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>Our school is well known
and respected for the high quality of our work, and over the last 20 years we
have produced some of the greatest plays of dramatic literature, from
Sophocles to Shakespeare, Brecht to Miller. <BR></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT
size=2><FONT face=Arial>Our recent repertory included <I>The Crucible,The Good
Woman of Setzuan</I>, Aristophanes' <I>The Birds</I>, an original production
of <I>Frankenstein</I> (written and directed by my colleague), and my personal
favorite<I>, Our Country's Good</I>, <BR></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial>We always try to pick plays which have a strong social or political
context because we enjoy teaching our students that theatre has an important
social function, and should challenge the audience to think.
<BR></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>This year we decided to
dedicate the entire year to Shakespeare, and we have already mounted a
production of <I>Twelfth Night.<BR></I>The second play, <I>Much Ado About
Nothing</I> has been cast, the sets and costumes designed, ready to go into
rehearsal, and we are faced with the possibility of canceling the show as a
protest to the B.C Government and their draconian legislation. Drama teachers
are withdrawing their voluntary services in many school
districts.<BR></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>I have a
wonderful group of talented students, and they have already indicated
that if we cancel the play they are behind us 100%. They want us to
stand up for what we believe in. They put it in writing, and are following up
with some individual political protests of their
own.<BR></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>After many sleepless
nights I have decided that we should continue with a play, maybe not <I>Much
Ado,</I> but something a bit edgier, a play about civil rights, or oppressive
governments, or standing up for yourself. These are the lessons I want to
teach my students through theatre. I want to wake them from their feeling of
helplessness. Me too. This is the only way I know to teach. I don't want to
miss an opportunity to give the students a special voice in this difficult
time.I have a plan, but I am struggling to find a
script.<BR></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>I welcome
suggestions of scripts - ensemble works are preferred. (25-35 actors)I will
direct it class time only (this is a Performance class, and we meet outside
the timetable) so I am limited to a few hours a week. Our protest only covers
extra-curricular, voluntary time.The production dates are late April, so we
have time to produce "one hell of a barn storming 50-75 minute, shake your
bones, noisy protest." Suggestion and comments please. Should I cancel, carry
on with <I>Much Ado About Nothing</I>, or...<BR></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT
size=2><FONT face=Arial>Please forward your ideas.<BR></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT
size=2><FONT face=Arial>I thank you in advance.<BR></FONT></FONT><BR><FONT
size=2><FONT face=Arial>Don Keith<BR>Kelowna Secondary School<BR>KELOWNA
B.C.<BR></FONT></FONT><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BODY></HTML>